Multiple can package



Sept. 13, 1960 R. L. BRUNSING MULTIPLE CAN PACKAGE Filed Dec. 31, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. REX L. BRUNS/NG ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1960 R. L.BRUNSING MULTIPLE CAN PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1956INVENTOR. REX L. BRUNS/NG A T TORNEVS Sept. 13, 1960 Filed Dec. 31, 195sR. L. BRUNSING 2,952,355

I I6 1 ME 1 j I INVENTOR. I ii 2; REX L. BRUNS/NG i BY flu mz wATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1960 R. L. BRUNSING MULTIPLE CAN PACKAGE Filed Dec.31, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. RE X L. BRUNS/NG W ,Ww/M

ATTORNEYS nitc This invention relates to a can package, and has for oneof its objects the provision of a simple, reliable, economically formedpackage of cans from which the individual cans are readily released, andwhich cans are held together for safe handling as a unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means foreconomically forming a rigid can package in which the cans are rigidrelative to each other for handling as a unit but that may readily beseparated from each other for use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means in acan package for carrying printed matter that is fully exposed over oneof the sides of the cans in the same manner as one of the sides of acarton for enclosing cans, and which means is adherently connected withthe cans by means extending over the ends of said cans.

Heretofore suggestions have been made for forming can packages in whichthe cans are connected at one or both of their ends by rigid stripsextending between rows of cans, and the cans have usually been arrangedin parallel rows so that the cans are fully exposed at opposite sides ofsaid rows.

In the present instance, while the cans may be in a. plurality of rows,the preferred method is to arrange the cans in a single row, of anydesired length, and to secure the cans together in such row in a mannerthat will enable them to be handled as a unit and to provide an exposedpanel at one of the sides of said rows for printing and to give theappearance of a conventional carton, and which panel contributes toholding the cans together as a unit. With this structure there isconsiderable economy in that lighter and consequently cheaper cardboardcan be used than heretofore.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in thedrawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can package in which the mosteconomical structure is provided.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank that is used for a side paneland as part of the means for holding the cans together.

Fig. 3 is a part end elevational view and part sectional view of theinvention as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the invention similar to that of Fig. 1 with thepanel slotted for the chimes of the cans, and with the means forsecuring the panel to the chimes slightly different from the means asshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged part sectional and part elevational view of theinvention shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the side panel used in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is illustrative of one step in one method of securing the blankof Fig. 6 to the cans.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a still further modification of theinvention in which panels are at opposite sides of the row of cans, andFig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8showing the two panels.

has Patent Patented Sept. 13, 1960 ice Fig. 10 is a perspective viewshowing two rows of cans held together as a unit by the structureemployed for the cans of Fig. 8 with a modification in the means forsecuring the panels to the cans.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a row of cans in a package inwhich a single panel is used for cooperating with the chimes of the cansand for holding the cans together as -a rigid unit.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary part sectional view taken along line 12-12 ofFig. 11 showing the relationship between the panel and the chimes of thecans.

Fig. 13 is a slightly different structure than is shown in Fig. 11, aportion of the view being in cross section for clarity.

In detail, referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a blank 1 of cardboard isprovided, which blank may be rectangular, or it may have the end edges 2(Fig. 2) of difiierent contours, such as indented or irregular.

Parallel folding creases 3 are preferably equally spaced from andparallel with the top and bottom edges of the blank to define marginalportions 4 along said edges.

The distance between the folding creases 3 should be equal to the heightof the cans, which cans may or may not be formed with radially andaxially outwardly projecting chimes 5 at its opposite ends, and the cansthemselves, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, are cylindrical and aregenerally designated 6.

The portion of blank 1 between the marginal portions 4 is numbered 7,and constitutes a panel, the length of which may be approximately thelength of the row of cans to be held together. Usually it is slightlyless in length, since it need not extend any substantial distance beyondthe center lines of the end cans of the row, and the minimum distancebetween the end edges, where they are indented as in the drawing may beeven less in length.

In making the package, the cans of the rows, which may be even six ormore cans, where the latter are relatively small, are positioned in sideby side engaging relation with panel or sheet 7 against the sides of thecans at one of the sides of the row.

The marginal portions of the panel are folded to overlie the two ends ofthe cans along the sides thereof that are adjacent to the panel 7 andthen a strip 8 of adhesive tape of the type having a moisture, cold, andheat resistant evertacky adhesive on one side, is positioned over saidmarginal portions and adhered thereto, with a substantial portion ofsaid tape extending beyond the top and bottom edges of said blank andadhered to the top and bottom ends of the cans as seen in Fig. 3.

Any suitable means may be employed for pressing the tape tightly againstthe ends of the cans and the marginal portions 8 (Fig. 3) may be pressedinto the recesses at the ends of the cans formed by the projectingchimes.

This tape itself is preferably resistant to moisture, cold and heat soas not to deteriorate under conditions that are normally encountered inthe refrigeration of canned beverages or under other conditions that maybe encountered in the display, shipping and handling of canned goods ofdifierent kinds.

The evertacky adhesive is of the type having a greater afiinity forcardboard than for the hard smooth surfaces of the cans, hence willstrip from the cans and remain adhered to the marginal portions of theblank in removing the blank and tape from the cans.

The panel 7 provides a clear, large area that carries printed material.Obviously the tape may also be preprinted, and in forming the package,the tape may, if desired, be initially adhered to the marginalportionsof the blank while the latter are coplanar with the panel, andthereafter moved into engagement with the ends of the cans.

'By this structure, relatively light weight cheap cardboard ofapproximately heavy paper weight, such as certaing 'kraft papers (notlaminated) may be used. This blank will be held relatively, taut by thetape since the pressure applied to the portions of the blank and tapeover the ends or heads of the cans will tightly draw the blank intoengagement with the chimes and the adhesive will hold the blank inplace. The cans cannot possibly rotate relative to each other, norbecome loosened, and the flanges reinforce the blank and prevent axialshifting of the cans relatively.

Instead of the marginal portions 4 being between the tape 8 and the endsof the cans, said tape may be of the type that is adhesive coated onopposite sides, so as to be adhered to the marginal portions on one ofthe sides of the tape while the opposite side may be adhered to the endsof the cans (Figs. Mo 7).

Fig. 4 illustrates a tape 10 disposed between marginal portions 11 of ablank 12 and the ends of the cans, said marginal portions being widerthan marginal portions 4 of blank 1.

This structure has the advantage of not exposing the tape "andof'providing a greater adhesive surface in contact with the cans. Alsothe marginal portions 11 may be printed with display material at thesame time as the blank and will be fully exposed. If desired, theadhesive could be carried directly by the marginal portions 12 insteadof being on tape, but this would require an adhesive applying machine inthe line.

While the cans will normally be held against axial shifting relative toeach other, the panel may be slotted at '13 for the chimes of the cans,in which the central or side panel 14 of the blank may be against thesides of the cans as seen in Fig. 5 and the presence of the blank willnot increase the thickness of the package transversely of the row overthe maximum diameter of the cans at the chimes.

If desired, the tape may first be applied to the cans in the method ofmaking the package, and the blank thereafter positioned against thesides of the cans, and the marginal portions folded over, or the tapemay be positioned on the marginal portions first. The method to beadopted depends upon the character of the apparatus employed.

Figs. 8 to 10 show substantially the same type of blank used as .inFigs. 1 to 3, the main difference being that two blanks are used in eachpackage instead of only one. By this structure advertising may be usedon panels at oppositesides of the package.

The blanks generally designated 15 in Figs. 8, 9, 10 have rectangularcentral or side panels 16 and marginal portions 17 extending over theends of the cans adjacent their opposite sides.

In Figs. 8, 9 where the package comprises a single row of cans, a gapwill be left between the edges of the marginal portions 17, and anadhesive tape 18 of the same character as described for Figs. 1 to 3,except wider, is secured along its longitudinally extending marginalportions to the marginal portions 17 of the blanks 15 so as to span thegap between said portions 17, and the central part of the tape sospanning this gap is adhered to the ends of the cans. Obviously thistape may be printed.

In Fig. 10 two rows of cans are shown in side by side parallelrelationship with thesame blanks 15 of Fig. 8 disposed over the sides ofthe cans at the opposite outwardly facing sides of said rows. A .stillwider tape 20 connects the marginal portions of the blanks and isadhered to the opposite ends of the cans of the pair of rows. While thedouble row of cans is not as rigid as in the single row structure,nevertheless the cans will be satisfactorily held if the handling isreasonably careful. In

any event, the cans will not separate from the package, but there .maybe a slight axial movement of the cans of one row .relative to the cans.of the other row if the package is roughly handled.

In Figs. 11, 12 a panel or rectangular sheet 22, preferably ofcorrugated cardboard to provide stifiness, is provided. The dimensionsof this panel are such that it will fit between the chimes 5 that'are atthe opposite ends of the cans, and will extend longitudinally of the rowto points at least even with center lines of the end cans, andpreferably slightly therepast.

There are no flanges on the sheet 22, but adhesive tape 23 of the samecharacter as described for use in Fig. l is employed. Each tape isadhered to the marginal portion of the blank at its upper and loweredges, and the remainder of each tape is then folded over the end of thecan adjacent thereto and is adhered to the end.

In Fig. 13 the same structure is used as in Fig. 11 except that theblank 24 is slightly Wider so as to extend at its upper and lower edgesto planes substantially even with the axially outer end surfaces of thechimes S, and notches 25 are cut out for the chimes 5. The edges of theblank in said notches engage the 'opposedly directed axially facingsurfaces of the chimes on the cans. The tape 23 is the same as the tapein Fig. 11. 7

By this structure the cans in the row cannot shift relative to eachother axially, and the panels provide for display printing. The blank ofFig. 11 is quite cheap to make since it is merely a rectangular sheetand no crease lines are necessary, and there is no folding stepnecessary, other than folding the tape to extend over the ends of thecans. 'Either single or double faced corrugated cardboard may be used.

It is to be understood that the specific forms of the inventiondescribed are not to be construed as being limitations on the scope ofthe invention, since they are merely illustrations of diiferent forms ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A can package comprising; a row of upright cans having verticalcylindrical sides and having horizontally disposed upper and lower endwalls, said cans being of corresponding shape and size and in side byside relation; a flat cardboard blank extending vertically .from end toend of said cans at one side only of said row, an upper flap and a lowerflap respectively integral with said blank along the upper and loweredges of the latter extending at right angles to said blank over saidupper and lower end walls of the cans of said row and termi nating infree edges along lines spaced between opposite edges of said upper andlower end walls respectively, said cans of said row being substantiallyin engagement with each other and with said blank and said flaps, saidblank and said flaps, respectively, being free from adherent engagementwith said sides of said cans and with said end walls, adhesive tapeextending longitudinally of said row adherently secured to said flapsand extending outwardly of said free edges relative to said blank andover said upper and lower end walls and adherently secured to said upperand lower end walls along said free edges whereby said cans will be heldrigidly relative to said blank and relative to said flaps and to eachother, and whereby said cans will be released from said blank and fromsaid flaps upon stripping said tape from said flaps.

'2. A can package comprising; a row of upright cans having verticalcylindrical sides and having horizontally disposed upper and lower endwalls, said cans being of corresponding shape and size and in side byside engaging relation with said upper and lower ends, respectively, incoplanar relation, 2. fiat, cardboard blank extending vertically fromend to end of said cans at one side of said row, an upper flap and alower flap respectively integral with said blank along the upper andlower edges of the latter extending at right angles to said blank oversaid upper and lower end walls of the cans of said row and terminatingin free edges along lines spaced betweenthe edges of said upper andlower end walls that are adjacent to said blank and the vertical axes ofthe cans of said row, said blank and said flaps, being free fromsecurcment to said end walls, and means adherently connected with saidend walls extending therefrom over said flaps and in adherent engagementtherewith connecting said flaps with said end walls and holding saidcans against movement relative to each other and to said blank andflaps.

3. A can package comprising a rowv of upright cans having verticalcylindrical sides and horizontally extending upper and lower end wallsand annular chimes extending around said end walls and projectingradially and axially therefrom above and below said end wallsrespectively, a single, flat, vertical blank extending from end to endof said cans at one side only of the latter in engagement with saidchimes and terminating in oppositely outwardly directed free edgesalongside the end cans of said row, upper and lower flaps integral withsaid blank along its upper and lower edges extending substantially atright angles to said blank over and in engagement with said chimes atsaid one side of said row and terminating in free edges along linesextending longitudinally of said row adjacent to said one side of saidrow, a pair of adhesive tapes respectively adherently secured to saidupper flap and to said lower fiap extending past said free edges andadherently secured to said upper and lower end walls along said freeedges firmly holding said blank and said flaps against said chimes andholding said cans against movement relative to each other and to saidflaps and said blank, said blank and said flaps being free fromsecurement directly to said sides, chimes and end walls of said canswhereby said blank and said flaps will be free from said cans uponstripping said tapes from said end walls.

4. A can package consisting of: a row of upright cylindrical cans inside by side substantially engaging relation, said cans having upper andlower ends and lateral sides, a vertical flat, cardboard panel extendingacross the lateral sides of said cans at one side only of said row andterminating at lateral ends in free edges that are spaced within thelaterally projected confines of said row, opposed flaps integral withsaid panel of single thickness of the material of the latter extendingover said upper and lower ends and terminating in free end edge adjacentto the ends of said row, means carried by said flaps spaced from thejunctures between said flaps and said panel and disposed over said upperand said lower ends in tightly adherent but releasable engagement withsaid upper and said lower ends of said cans firmly holding said canstightly against said panel and said flaps at their junctures and holdingsaid cans against rotation and lateral movement relative to each otherand to said flaps and panel, the lateral sides of the end cans of saidrow facing longitudinally of said row and the lateral sides of the cansfacing away from said panel being substantially fully exposed forviewing.

5. A can package comprising a row of upright cylindrical cans ofcorresponding size and shape in side by side relation, said cans havingupper and lower horizontal ends and vertical lateral sides and annular,horizontally disposed chimes around said upper and lower endsrespectively projecting axially above and below said upper and lowerends and radially outwardly of the latter, a single, fiat panelextending vertically from end to end of said cans at one side only ofsaid row having a pair of spaced opposed flaps integral therewithextending at right angles to said panel over the upper and lower ends ofsaid cans, the upper and lower edges of said panel and said flaps beingspaced apart a distance equal to the vertical length of said cans, saidchimes being in engagement with said panel and with said flaps at thejunctures between said panels and flaps, adhesive means carried by saidflaps disposed over said upper and lower ends and extending into thespaces respectively enclosed by said chimes in firm adherent securementto said upper and lower ends holding said cans against rotation relativeto each other and holding said chimes at said upper and lower ends inclose engagement with said panel and with said upper and lower flaps atthe junctures between said flaps and said panel and holding said flapssubstantially at right angles to said panel whereby the cans of said rowwill be solidly held together as a unit, said panel and said flapsterminating in free end edges adjacent to the ends of said row, thelateral sides of said cans facing away from said panel and facingoppositely outwardly of the row at its ends being fully exposedsubstantially from end to end thereof, and the cans of said row formingthe sole connection between said flaps exclusive of said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,554,190 Hennessey May 22, 1951 2,678,767 Toensmeier May 18, 19542,694,488 Crane i' Nov. 16, 1954 2,786,572 Gentry Mar. 26, 19572,798,603 Grinspoon July 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 213,424 Australia Mar.1, 1956

